Published: Friday, September 13, 2013 at 11:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 12:53 a.m.

Trinity Catholic senior Dominique Brown was less than thrilled about his team's defensive performance in a win over Palatka last week. In a 20-14 win, the Celtics allowed 284 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

The star cornerback and the rest of the high-powered Trinity defense made amends Friday night by pitching a shutout at home against Gainesville Eastside, 44-0.

"I think we bounced back pretty good," said Brown, who finished with five tackles and a fumble recovery against the Rams. "It was a tough week last week where we didn't do as good as we thought we would do. We were mad about it."

Brown said the Celtics changed up their defensive system this week after starting the year with a 3-5 base unit. Trinity (3-0) reverted back to last year's defense, which was a four-man front.

"We were coming into the game not knowing how it would work and said ‘OK we have to get used to it,' " Brown said. "It worked out well."

Well indeed, as the opportunistic defense recovered two fumbles — Brown and Darrien McNair — and had a pair of interceptions by Terhan Stanley and Willie Young. The new-look front also swarmed Eastside quarterback Malachi Lofland all night, sacking the junior five times — three by sophomore Jordan Woods. In all EHS (0-3) was only able to gain 40 yards on the ground and 55 through the air. The Rams had five first downs in the game.

"We changed some things on defense to get Jordan a chance," Trinity head coach John Brantley III said. "Here's a kid who has been offered (a scholarship) by half the SEC, so you want to put him in a place to be successful."

The Celtics offense shined as well, scoring three times through the air and three times on the ground.

Senior quarterback Reid Carlton found junior Richie Denicola for a pair of touchdowns, while Carlton ran in a touchdown as well.

Trinity's first points came midway through the first quarter after McNair's fumble recovery set the Celtics up on the Eastside 13-yard line. On a third down from the 7, Carlton found running back London Gaskin in the flat. The junior punched it in from there.

After a Denicola 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, Stanley's interception set up the offense again. Carlton found Denicola on single coverage in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown catch, making the score 17-0.

The duo hooked up again on Trinity's first possession of the second half — this time from 14 yards out. Denicola fought off two defenders in the right corner of the end zone to make the score 24-0.

From there the rout was on, as Carlton ran one in from 21 yards out, making it 31-0. The three-year starter's night was over as freshman Ryan Miller stepped in at quarterback for the final quarter. Carlton finished 12-of-14 passing for 138 yards and three touchdown passes. He also threw an interception on the first drive of the game.

Brown and Johnny Taylor each scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the icing on the cake for Trinity — Brown from a yard out and Taylor from 37 yards out up the gut.

As a whole, Trinity ran for 246 yards in the win. Taylor's 123 yards on 17 carries were a game high. Senior tight end Max Linder hauled in four catches for 58 yards.

"Our offense was spotty at times, but we're starting to show signs," Brantley said. "We were without a couple of key players on offense tonight, so the next guy has to step up. That's what you have to do at a smaller school. But I thought overall we played an outstanding game."

Trinity was without starting wide receiver Rudi Outar, who missed practice time earlier in the week with a thigh injury, and starting fullback Mark Franklin, who hurt his knee during the season opener in Baltimore against Calvert Hall.

Gaskin, who was injured during the preseason classic and hasn't played since, returned to the lineup Friday, but hurt his ankle during the second quarter and did not return.

"It's going to take all of these guys to fully be effective," said Brantley, whose Celtics host the IMG Academy next week.

<p>Trinity Catholic senior Dominique Brown was less than thrilled about his team's defensive performance in a win over Palatka last week. In a 20-14 win, the Celtics allowed 284 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.</p><p>The star cornerback and the rest of the high-powered Trinity defense made amends Friday night by pitching a shutout at home against Gainesville Eastside, 44-0.</p><p>"I think we bounced back pretty good," said Brown, who finished with five tackles and a fumble recovery against the Rams. "It was a tough week last week where we didn't do as good as we thought we would do. We were mad about it."</p><p>Brown said the Celtics changed up their defensive system this week after starting the year with a 3-5 base unit. Trinity (3-0) reverted back to last year's defense, which was a four-man front.</p><p>"We were coming into the game not knowing how it would work and said 'OK we have to get used to it,' " Brown said. "It worked out well."</p><p>Well indeed, as the opportunistic defense recovered two fumbles — Brown and Darrien McNair — and had a pair of interceptions by Terhan Stanley and Willie Young. The new-look front also swarmed Eastside quarterback Malachi Lofland all night, sacking the junior five times — three by sophomore Jordan Woods. In all EHS (0-3) was only able to gain 40 yards on the ground and 55 through the air. The Rams had five first downs in the game.</p><p>"We changed some things on defense to get Jordan a chance," Trinity head coach John Brantley III said. "Here's a kid who has been offered (a scholarship) by half the SEC, so you want to put him in a place to be successful."</p><p>The Celtics offense shined as well, scoring three times through the air and three times on the ground.</p><p>Senior quarterback Reid Carlton found junior Richie Denicola for a pair of touchdowns, while Carlton ran in a touchdown as well.</p><p>Trinity's first points came midway through the first quarter after McNair's fumble recovery set the Celtics up on the Eastside 13-yard line. On a third down from the 7, Carlton found running back London Gaskin in the flat. The junior punched it in from there.</p><p>After a Denicola 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, Stanley's interception set up the offense again. Carlton found Denicola on single coverage in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown catch, making the score 17-0.</p><p>The duo hooked up again on Trinity's first possession of the second half — this time from 14 yards out. Denicola fought off two defenders in the right corner of the end zone to make the score 24-0.</p><p>From there the rout was on, as Carlton ran one in from 21 yards out, making it 31-0. The three-year starter's night was over as freshman Ryan Miller stepped in at quarterback for the final quarter. Carlton finished 12-of-14 passing for 138 yards and three touchdown passes. He also threw an interception on the first drive of the game.</p><p>Brown and Johnny Taylor each scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the icing on the cake for Trinity — Brown from a yard out and Taylor from 37 yards out up the gut.</p><p>As a whole, Trinity ran for 246 yards in the win. Taylor's 123 yards on 17 carries were a game high. Senior tight end Max Linder hauled in four catches for 58 yards.</p><p>"Our offense was spotty at times, but we're starting to show signs," Brantley said. "We were without a couple of key players on offense tonight, so the next guy has to step up. That's what you have to do at a smaller school. But I thought overall we played an outstanding game."</p><p>Trinity was without starting wide receiver Rudi Outar, who missed practice time earlier in the week with a thigh injury, and starting fullback Mark Franklin, who hurt his knee during the season opener in Baltimore against Calvert Hall.</p><p>Gaskin, who was injured during the preseason classic and hasn't played since, returned to the lineup Friday, but hurt his ankle during the second quarter and did not return.</p><p>"It's going to take all of these guys to fully be effective," said Brantley, whose Celtics host the IMG Academy next week.</p>